New fee structure approved for development in Regina

Growth should pay for growth. At least that’s what the City of Regina believes when it comes to building new neighbourhoods.

At an uncommonly short council meeting on Monday night, a proposal was approved that alters the arrangement between developers and taxpayers when it comes to who pays for growth.

It’s a new phased-in fee structure that would eventually result in developers paying $451,000 per hectare by 2018. The city would retain that money and use it for capital costs of new infrastructure projects.

The city wants to ensure that as growth happens, it does not create an unfair financial burden for taxpayers. The recommendations in the proposal aim to make sure proper fees and levies are in place so that they more accurately cover the cost of infrastructure triggered by development.

The proposal passed with a vote of nine to one. Councillor Jerry Flegel was the only vote against. He had proposed an amendment to the proposal earlier in the meeting which was defeated.